Gov. Joe Manchin plans no immediate state review of coal pollution's impacts on public health following the release of four studies that raise questions about the industry's effects.
Gov. Joe Manchin plans no immediate state review of coal pollution's impacts on public health following the release of four studies that raise questions about the industry's effects.
Manchin asked two state agencies to look at the studies, but any serious follow-up investigation should be left to the federal government, state officials said.
"If what they are saying about coal, if you follow that assessment, that's not just a West Virginia issue," said Lara Ramsburg, Manchin's communications director.
But, the governor also had no immediate plans to ask federal authorities to look into the matter.
"It's all under review, but I can't tell you where we're headed with it, because it's new this week," Ramsburg said Friday afternoon.
On Tuesday, West Virginia University announced the findings of one of four scientific papers about the possible effects of living in coal-producing counties on public health.
WVU research Michael Hendryx has found that residents in coalfield counties face a greater risk of early death, and of suffering from heart, lung and kidney disease. Hendryx said that his studies took into account age, obesity, smoking and diet and still found coal-producing counties with higher rates of death and disease.
More research is needed, Hendryx said, to look at actual coal emissions, and how nearby residents might be exposed to such pollution. He said that coal dust in the air and slurry in water supplies are possibilities that need to be examined.
"We need to pay attention to these problems, and try to find ways to deal with them," Hendryx said.
On Friday, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said that he needed more time to review the research, and to talk to Hendryx about his work.
Gov. Joe Manchin plans no immediate state review of coal pollution's impacts on public health following the release of four studies that raise questions about the industry's effects.
Manchin asked two state agencies to look at the studies, but any serious follow-up investigation should be left to the federal government, state officials said.
"If what they are saying about coal, if you follow that assessment, that's not just a West Virginia issue," said Lara Ramsburg, Manchin's communications director.
But, the governor also had no immediate plans to ask federal authorities to look into the matter.
"It's all under review, but I can't tell you where we're headed with it, because it's new this week," Ramsburg said Friday afternoon.
On Tuesday, West Virginia University announced the findings of one of four scientific papers about the possible effects of living in coal-producing counties on public health.
WVU research Michael Hendryx has found that residents in coalfield counties face a greater risk of early death, and of suffering from heart, lung and kidney disease. Hendryx said that his studies took into account age, obesity, smoking and diet and still found coal-producing counties with higher rates of death and disease.
More research is needed, Hendryx said, to look at actual coal emissions, and how nearby residents might be exposed to such pollution. He said that coal dust in the air and slurry in water supplies are possibilities that need to be examined.
"We need to pay attention to these problems, and try to find ways to deal with them," Hendryx said.
On Friday, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said that he needed more time to review the research, and to talk to Hendryx about his work.
Stephanie Timmermeyer, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said that such concerns about coal's impact on public health are beyond her agency's purview.
DEP reviews mining permit applications, and ensures that they comply with federal regulations, Timmermeyer said. Then, DEP inspectors make sure mines follow their permits, she said. Looking into whether mines or processing plants are making residents sick isn't DEP's job, Timmermeyer said.
"We are the agency that regulates emissions from facilities, and the way we regulate those emissions is based on environmental quality standards," Timmermeyer said," Timmermeyer said. "Most of those are developed on the federal level.
"No one at my agency should be talking about whether these facilities have adverse health effects," Timmermeyer said. "That's not under our purview and we do not have that expertise."
Ramsburg said that public health issues like the ones raised by Hendryx should be handled by the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
Officials in DHHR's Bureau for Public Health referred questions to agency epidemiologist Loretta Haddy. Haddy said Friday that she needs more time to review Hendryx's studies before she comments.
Joe Lovett, director of the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment, said he wasn't surprised that the Manchin administration was not acting on Hendryx's research.
Lovett also said that DEP has clear authority to deal with such issues, under state and federal laws that prohibit mining operations from causing any "off-site damage."
"If this isn't off-site damage, what is?" Lovett said. "DEP doesn't understand its job. It never saw a law it wanted to enforce."
To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348-1702.
